You voted for Weslley Patati as the KOPELL Group sponsored Maccabi Player of the Month of October.

Just like in October, the Brazilian winger scored a brace against Bnei Sakhnin to receive most of your votes. Patati was facing tough competition from Dor Turgeman and Nemanja Stojic who came in second and third, respectively.

Voted for Patati? Now comes the part you have been waiting for.

Whoever voted for Patati should receive a text message containing the prize question by 17:00 today (Sunday). The first person to send a correct answer will receive a signed shirt by Maccabi’s Player of the Month, Weslley Patati, as well as an official Maccabi scarf.

 

or Peretz scored Maccabi’s equalizer against Hapoel Hadera last week and the second in the 2-0 victory over Hapoel Haifa at Bloomfield to ensure a fourth victory in succession: “I put everything into that goal”, Peretz said minutes after the match, “If OI go back to the beginning of the game – we didn’t concede a goal today which is something we would like to begin adding to our game for the rest of the season. This is an amazing trait for a team that wants to compete for the league title. We will give everything to continue keeping a clean sheet.” Peretz, who took his tally to seven league goals this season, added: “I am delighted we all managed to get the best in terms of form and result. The atmosphere was amazing today, the fans, the collaboration with ‘Mashina’ which was a great privilege for us, a lot of fun.”

Ahead of the forthcoming Playoffs which kick-off next weekend with another home match against Hapoel Haifa, Peretz added: “I think the energy today was very very good from the start of the match. Ultimately against Hadera and despite conceding two goals we made a comeback and won 3-2. This is something which shows a lot of character. We will have to continue and build on today’s form, take the positives and learn from our mistakes ahead of the Playoff.”

The 29-year-old who is playing his 10th season of senior football, said: “Everything could decide (the title race) as football is a game of mistakes and exploiting chances at the opposite end. I hope we will reach the Playoffs as sharp as we possibly can and show good form similar to what we did today.”

Peretz, who will be sidelined from next week’s match as he serves a one-match touchline ban due to 5 yellow cards, added: “I fully trust my teammates. We only deal with what we have to do and what is under our control.”

After going level on points with Hapoel Beersheva who play later in the week, Peretz explained: “We can only cause Be’erhsheva to slip in the matches against us. We will be responsible for our actions and what depends on us. I think the victory is the best important thing here. There is an entire team that wants to maintain the good energy and proceed towards the Playoffs.”

Preview

Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the final match of the regular season as they host Hapoel Haifa on MD26 of the WINNER League. This will be the first of two league matches against Hapoel Haifa in the space of a week, as they were drawn to be the opening match of the Playoff as well.

On the back of last week’s dramatic 3-2 victory over bottom of the table side Hapoel Hadera, Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, will be aiming for a better start than the one which saw his side concede twice early on, as well as for the 15th league match in succession.

Lazetic welcomed Tyrese Asante and Issouf Sissokho back from suspension as the duo were named in Maccabi’s starting line up against the in from Haifaities. Asante was named at right-back with Raz Shlomo back in the starting line up partnering Nemanja Stojic at the heart of defense. Roy Revivo completed Maccabi’s defensive line in front of goalkeeper Simon Sluga. Sissokho in the anchorman role sat at the back of the midfielder trio which included Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz. Following the injury to Weslley Patati, Elad Madmon was named on one wing with Osher Davida on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman who scored Maccabi’s winning goal against Hadera, led the line aiming to add to his tally of 15 goals in all competitions.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Lazetic named, Idan Nachmias, Eran Zahavi, Joris van Overeem, Yonas Malede, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada and Ido Shahar.

Prior to kickoff a ceremony was held with the band members of Mashina acknowledging 40 years since their first album was released with the iconic Night Train song.

Maccabi’s owner’s representative Jack Angelides and Tal Mualem VP of Marketing & Commerce presented the band with framed gold records.

First Half

With a positive energy from the fans Maccabi began the match on the front foot and enjoyed most of the possession. Eight minutes from the start Roy Revivo received the ball just inside the area before drilling a powerful left foot drive which was punched away by Haifa’s keeper Yoav Gerafi. Five minutes later at the opposite end Dor Hugi almost caught Maccabi’s defense off guard as he charged forward but sent his shot wide of Simon Sluga’s right post.

In the 17th minute Gabi Kanichowsky picked Osher Davida with a perfectly measured pass but the winger’s attempt of square ball into the path of Dor Turgeman was created by Haifa’s defense right from the goalmouth. Davida who looked dangerous down the right, received the ball from Elad Madmon in the 31st minute before cutting inside to his left and releasing a pwerful drive that Gerafi managed to catch.

Maccabi were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minutes after Revivo was fouled inside the penalty with David Fuxman pointing directly at the spot. Dor Turgeman stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick past Gerafi to give Maccabi a 1-0 lead with his 11th league goal of the season.

Second Half

With no changes at halftime Maccabi began the second half where the first one left off as they were awarded a free kick near the corner of the area after Revivo was fouled once again. Kanichowsky curled the free kick beyond the wall but Gerafi was ready on the goalline to catch the ball and deny Maccabi a second. Maccabi came close right on the hour mark as a long pinpoint ball by Nemanja Stojic released Davida who burst into the area but saw his effort saved by Gerafi for a corner. 

In the 68th minute Stojic limped off after picking an injury as Lazetic introduced Stav Lemkin. Turgeman pulled the trigger with a right-foot half volley on 71 which went wide of the post as Maccabi continued to look dangerous.

While Lazetic was preparing for a double change to introduce Henry Addo and Eran Zahavi on 75, Maccabi doubled their lead. Peretz won the ball deep inside Haifa’s half charged forward and blasted his shot which was too powerful for Gerafi as the ball flew off the keeper into the roof of the net. Madmon and Turgeman bowed out and were replaced by Addo and Zahavi as Maccabi pushed forward trying to increase the lead even further. Zahavi fired a shot from the edge of the area which was caught be Gerafi as the veteran forward tried to get his name on the scoresheet and join in on the celebration.

Maccabi made another double substitution in the 88th minute as Sissokho and Peretz bowed out to a standing ovation and were replaced by Joris van Overeem Abdallah Ido Shahar for the closing stages.

n 1985 Mashina’s self-titled debut album, was released as the young band turned overnight into a sensation conquering the Israeli charts with songs like ‘Optikai Meduplam’ (A certified optician), ‘Anna’, ‘Ballada le Sochen Kaful’ (A ballade for a double agent), ‘Atid Matok’ (Sweet future) and more.

The album included another song – ‘Rakevet Layla’ (Night Train) which was initially released as a single. Night Train was a great success and is considered one of the band’s biggest hits – was written following the trauma caused by the first Lebanon war of 1982. Over the years, ‘Night train’ became one of Mashina’s most loved songs but also broke into the tribunes of the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. The connection to the club was so strong that during the past decade a part of the song was sounded in home matches after the team scored goals.

Forty years on, in a special documentary we go back to the fascinating stories behind the forming of Mashina, the reasons for its’ rapid success, what led to the writing of ‘Night train’ and the strong bond to Maccabi and its’ fans. The movie includes original material shared by the band members from their private archives which gives us all a rare glimpse into the days where one of Israel’s greatest musical legends was formed

 Dor Peretz who scored Maccabi’s equalizer on the way to a dramatic late 3-2 victory over Hapoel Hadera at Netanya last Saturday. Five days later and ahead of the match against Hapoel Haifa at Bloomfield which will conclude the regular league season, Peretz reflected on the previous match. “Personally, after watching and analyzing the game, I think the energy at the start of the game was excellent” Peretz said on the match that began on a bright note before the match took a different course. “We then conceded from a set piece and shortly after the second goal. For a big team to concede two goals causes a shock, but I am delighted we showed that there is character here of a team and players who know how to bounce back and grow from this.”

The 29-year-old whose goal against Hadera was his 6^th in the league and 13^th in all competitions this season, said of his personal form: “I am regrettably not aware of criticism directed at me. When the team is winning I am feeling great and when the team is losing then I have responsibility as overall I have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders to lead the team to where we would like to be, just like other players. This is a collective team effort and I am happy when we succeed as a team.”

On the title race and the head-to-head battle with Hapoel Be’ersheva, Peretz added: “I am focused on my team and what we can do, as long as we do it – which is our duty. I can respond to a narrative that other people determine.”

On the feeling at the end of the game against Hadera, Peretz said: “The (two-goal) deficit was turned into a victory so I don’t know what negative feeling we are talking about. We have things to learn from but we did manage to win. We are our biggest enemy, because when we lose point it is us, Be’ersheva does their share, and every team has its own journey.”

Hapoel Haifa secured a 5^th spot at the end of the regular season to book a place in the Play Offs. When both teams met earlier this season Maccabi were held to a 1-1 draw by Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer, as Peretz reflected: “An opponent of the highest level, as our match at Sammy Ofer against them was one of the toughest we had all season. They are good at counter attacks and have players of the highest quality so we will have to adapt ourselves in order to display the football we would like to show.”